My wife was given a little tin box to put watercolours in and seeing it, I couldn’t resist buying one myself. I have put a basic range of 6 colours in half-pans in it (though I might split some of these into two quarter pans), including some relatively new colours that I don’t use often. It’s so small (just 6x5cm) that it fits in my roll up pencil case.
Mon-20-Apr-2026
This is the ink I got from my daughters for my birthday. It’s Sailor Seiboku, a lovely turquoise blue, water resistant and, so far, has shown no sign of blocking my preppy pen. The paper is from a 160gsm Mixed Media pad from Artists Loft – which I bought in Canada last year. So far it is pretty good – smooth to draw on, doesn’t pill too much and it can take quite a lot working. It does buckle a bit (understandable) and struggles with watercolour layers, but otherwise is good.
Tue-7-Apr-2026
After our sketch-walk at Tandang Sora, we went for lunch at the Gateway Mall and then walked to the Art Caravan store in the Katinko Building on the corner of Edsa and New York Street, where they were having a “warehouse sale” with up to 90% discounts on selected items. The sale goes on until 8 April and we went a bit mad. I bought these paints (mostly QOR brand and one Daler-Rowney)…and it turns out I bought mostly blues and greens!
Mon-23-Mar-2026
These are my wife’s paint brushes, two of which I bought for her at the Centris Market – second hand original Japanese brushes at a little stall called “Goods from Japan”. Thanks to Ray, Reuel and Randy for recommending it – what a find!
Mon-16-Mar-2026
In this sketch I am testing out a sample of #Umae watercolours that I was given at the #ArtSihan event on 5 October (from Gift Box). The range of colours in the bottom colour wheeel (for comparison) is the mix I have in my palette at the moment – mostly Holbein Watercolours and Daniel Smith. This sketch is also done on some new paper (#DalerRowney Smooth-Heavyweight 220 g/m2).
Fri-31-Oct-2025
On this evening I opened my pencil case thinking “what shall I draw?” and saw my #Derwent watercolour pencils and thought “that will do”.
Sun-12-Oct-2025
I’m always looking for a smarter way to carry my sketching kit around. I got this pencil case free with some toothpaste but it’s not the best solution because when I dump all my kit into a bucket I can never find what I need. This sketch was done while my roll bag was in the laundry.
Wed-1-Oct-2025
Here is some sketching done in the evening while watching Downton Abbey (a UK historical drama/soap) – lots of M’lady, his Lordship etc. I was putting away some paints and saw some matching colours. this is the new palette I bought in the UK.
Mon-1-Sep-2025
For this sketch I was watching Strange New Worlds, just doodling a few little bottles of ink.
Thu-28-Aug-2025